by Griff Hosker
Pol was a skilful horseman and he managed to avoid injury as he dismounted on the run and then I reached down to haul him up on my horse. We lumbered on, a little slower now, but continuing to out pace the men on foot. I saw the stream ahead and behind it a hedgerow and a field. I was contemplating what to do when I noticed my horse labouring. Pol said, “There are two arrows in its hindquarters. She will not last long.”
That decided me. I headed into the stream. “Get off and jump into the bank on the left.” As he did so I dismounted and slapped the horse’s rump. Without a rider she galloped off along the stream. I joined Pol and we lay down behind the bank of the river hidden by the grass which was still long from a hot dry summer. Our cloaks covered us and I looked down the stream. My horse still ran on splashing through the water and then something must had scared the beast for it jinked to the right.
Just then the men reached the water’s edge. This was the moment of truth. Would they find us? I heard their voices and they were Welsh, not Saxon. “Which way did they go?”
“There I can see the tail of the horse. They are going downstream come on quick.”
“If we don’t bring back the bastard’s head the king will have ours!”
I kept my head down as they splashed into the water and waited until the sounds had faded. I lifted my head and saw that no-one was in sight. “Quick Pol on your feet.” I contemplated going back to the ambush site and gamble on the fact that they would all be searching for me. That was not the sensible option and we needed to get away. “Over there!”
I led Pol through the blackthorn bushes away from the river. It was thick and tangled but we had mail and wolf skins. It would not harm us. We pushed on through increasingly thick bushes until suddenly we found a path. Left would take us back in the direction of the monastery some fifteen miles away. Right would take us towards Deva some ten miles hence. “We have a choice Pol,. Deva or the monastery.”
He managed a wry smile as he adjusted his shield across his back to make it more comfortable. “You have already decided have you not?”
“Aye, we head for the monastery. They were Welsh warriors and not bandits. King Iago wants me dead; he sent them for us. This was a trap.”
We headed down the path and made much quicker time than before. “I thought they were not Saxon and wondered why I could understand them. But why does he want you dead?”
“I believe he sees me as a threat. I am not a threat but men who are devious themselves see cunning in others. He does not trust me.”
We made good time until we suddenly found a place where the steam had flooded. The way ahead was impassable. “We will have to find a way around. You stay here Pol while I seek the way. You will need to direct me for I will not be able to see far ahead and I may become lost.” I took out my long dagger and began to hack at the brambles and briars which seemed to form a fence. The ground was wet and sucked at my boots. Even the wolf skin did not seem immune to the thorns.
“My lord you are going too far to the right. Cut left!”
I turned to the left and saw a large patch of water. I had no idea how deep it was. I hacked down four or five huge weeds and laid them like a mat and then placed them over the water. When I stepped on to it I was pleased that it took my weight. I leapt from it and found solid ground and I saw the path reappear before me. “Pol, follow my tracks, I am almost there.”
When I reached the path I looked at the state of my boots and my cloak I was now a shade of brown mud. When Pol appeared he looked the same except he also had cuts on his face. He only had a conical helmet. “I think that, when we get out of this we will have the smith make you a better helmet.” I noticed that he still clutched the standard. “You could have ditched that you know. Your life is more valuable.”
He shook his head. “No, my lord. This is worth ten Pols in battle. We have never lost when it has been waved. Let us not tempt fortune.”
We pushed on hard and the ground began to climb. We took a rest. When we were not moving I heard the sound of the chase. They were behind us. I could not see them because of the bushes but they would be able to track us that I knew. We had had to cut through bushes and grasses; even the poorest tracker would see our route. I looked up at the sky. Night was rapidly approaching but we needed an escape quickly or we would not see the night. The path continued to twist up the slope and the brush gave way to woodland.
Suddenly I saw a patch of rocks to the left of some trees and I made for them. “Follow me.” The rocks went ten paces into the woods. I spied an oak with branches low enough to climb. “Quick up the tree!” We both made the branch and then I looked around for the next path. The branch crossed the branch of a smaller tree quite close by and I edged, gingerly along the limb until I could step, carefully on to the next branch. It held but only just. “Wait there Pol until I find the next one.” I doubted that this branch would take the weight of two of us. I walked to the bole of the tree and saw another large round rock beneath. I jumped and managed to avoid slithering off. “Right Pol follow me and I will catch you when you jump.”
We had both just dropped safely behind the rock when I heard the sounds of men crashing through the bushes some fifty or so paces away. There were more than ten. They moved on and then there was silence I breathed a sigh of relief. Pol opened his mouth to speak and I put my mailed glove across it. A few moments later I heard voices again as some of the hunters returned. “The footprints stopped here!”
“Well they can’t have just disappeared can they? They have to be close. What do you think they did? Fly?”
“I dunno. He has that wizard Myrddyn you know? He has powers. Don’t you remember that story we heard how the wizard made him disappear so that he could get into Dina Guardi and kill Morcant Bulc.”
“Just keep looking. I don’t want to have to tell King Iago we lost them.”
“Can’t we just say they died in the river.”
“Nah! He will want the head and if he is alive and reappears then it will be our heads stuck on a spear.”
“You never know he might get to Deva himself and save us the trouble. He might think it was Saxons who ambushed him.”
“I hope he does. There are a hundred men on the roads just waiting for him. But I think the crafty bastard is here in this forest.”
They began to beat around on both sides of the path. I think that they were hoping to make us bolt but we were like two statues not moving and hardly daring to breathe. At one point one of them reached the rock behind which we were hiding. I had my dagger in my hand ready to rip his throat if he stumbled upon us then I heard. “Let’s try back tracking. They might have tried the horse trick.”
“Let’s go and get the dogs. They’ll find them.”
“Aye well that is what we might as well do. They can’t get out of here. We have men on both ends of the path. We just need to be patient.”
The night darkened and human noises ceased. Soon the only sounds were the animal and bird noises of the forests. “We cannot use the path but we are off it anyway.” I tried to visualise the land as it had been in daylight. “The path was going up hill. We are now parallel to that path. If we continue going up hill then we will end up on the ridge again.”
Pol was just happy to still be alive. “We can get by without the food Warlord but I am powerful thirsty.”
“As am I; we will just have to hope for a stream.”
There was no moon which made it difficult to keep moving in a straight line. I always went up the slope and tried to avoid deviation. The higher we went then the fewer the trees and it became easier. I was no longer worried about leaving tracks. If they were close enough to track, then we were dead anyway. I just hoped that we could emerge away from a party of Welshmen hungry to feast on Warlord.
When I aw the hillside growing lighter I knew that we must be close to the top. I held my arm out for Pol to halt. I was panting. I was not as fit as I had once been. I listened. At first I heard nothing and then, in the distance, I he
ard the faint neigh of a horse. We had avoided stumbling upon them. We edged forwards until the tree line ended. We crept out on all fours and peered down the ridge line. The Welsh guards had made a cardinal error. They had lit a fire and we could see it about a mile away. I knew, from countless nights on guard duty, that their night vision would have gone and I hurried Pol over the top of the ridge to the welcoming trees on the other side. We had to get as far down the ridge as possible. They would bring dogs as soon as dawn broke and search the forest. They would pick up our trail and so we had to disguise it as best we could.
I waved the weary Pol down the slope which led to the monastery. We were still at least ten miles away and by daylight we would still be well short. I was searching for two things, a stream, we needed water and it would throw off the scent, and some animal dung. It would only confuse the dogs but confusion would slow them down and we needed every tiny particle of time we could grab.
The stream was only small but it was all that we needed. We drank first and it tasted like nectar. Then we walked down the middle of it oblivious to the cold and the dampness seeping through the seams of our boots. I spied a deer in the woods. It ran off but I searched around and found its dung. “Step in this. Get it over your boots.” Pol looked at me sceptically. “This may save your life. Just do it.”
He did as he was ordered as did I and then we followed the trail left by the deer. It didn’t matter where it was going it would confuse the dogs. Luckily it was going downhill and that suited us. After a mile I deemed that we could head for the monastery. I wanted to be well down the valley before sunrise. I could see that Pol was tiring. It was not that I was any fitter but I think I had more stamina. It was mid morning when we heard the dogs over the ridge. Pol shot me a look of terror. “Do not worry Pol. They still have some miles to travel. Look yonder, the smoke of the monastery.” I stopped, partly to let us both get our breath and partly to make quite clear what I intended. “We will head across the vale as though we are going over the ridge. We will find another steam and then back track. I want them to follow us to Mona.” Enlightenment filled his face. “It is what they expect we will do and the dogs will persuade them that this is so.”
When we reached the other side of the valley I could hear the dogs much clearer but we could see nothing. When we found the shelter of the trees and a stream I stopped. “Take off your boots!” Pol obeyed me and we both became barefooted. “Walk in the water and head downstream.” The icy water of the stream woke us up but I was counting on the change of smell throwing the dogs. By the time we reached the bottom my feet were blue and I had little feeling left in them. Once again we used stones to disguise our exit; by stepping on them we left no prints in the mud. I could see the monastery some eight hundred paces away. It would not do to be seen and we sprinted from bush to bush and tree to tree until we reached the shelter of the monastery walls. We both slumped to the floor and a surprised monk found us. “Warlord!”
“Find Bishop Stephen! We are in trouble!”
Chapter 10
Bishop Stephen took one look at us and had his monks escort us, not into the main hall, but to the animal byre. He asked us to climb up into the higher level, the hay loft. I said not a word. Shelter, rest and food were our priorities and the bishop looked like he knew what he was doing and had a plan. As soon as we were inside he dismissed his monks after asking them to bring food and drink for us. I quickly explained what had happened. He did not look surprised. “I suspected that you were in danger and that you were being hunted when I heard the dogs. The smell of the byre will confuse them. Here give me your boots and I will wash them. Take off your armour and clothes and I will send a monk’s habit. It anyone comes in here then begin to tend the animals. Hide your armour and weapons beneath the hay. If they search there then it means the ruse has not worked.”
“Do not put yourself at risk bishop.”
He smiled, “Jesus told us to help those who needed help and you two need help. I am doing the Lord’s work!”
As he left I turned to Pol. “Let us do as he asks but I hate to put these good people at risk. We will try to escape on our own as soon as possible.” We stood there naked until the monks reappeared with habits and food.
While we dressed Bishop Stephen made sure our clothes, weapons and armour were well hidden. He leaned towards us. “They are on the far side of the valley. Whatever you did it confused the dogs but they will visit here. Keep your cowls up and do not speak if they come. Some of the monks have sworn an oath of silence. It will not seem unusual if you do not talk.” He beckoned us. “Come and join the other monks in the chapel.” My face must have shown my surprise for he smiled. “I do not think that God will send a bolt of lightening to destroy my church because I protect a good man.” He shrugged, “But if it helps to make you a Christian…”
We climbed down from the loft and followed the bishop towards the church. I resisted the temptation to look in the direction of the howling and baying dogs but it was hard to keep my eyes fixed on the ground and the hem of the bishop’s habit. The church, I was pleased to see, was dimly lit by smoky candles. I also noted that the monks all knelt and had their cowls up. The bishop gestured for us to kneel next to two monks who had left a space for us. They smiled and nodded at their hands which were folded together. We copied them.
Although I know some Latin, I did not understand much of what was said, sung and chanted but I stood when the others did and knelt at other times. The whole process seemed to go on for hours and was as exhausting as the practice for the shield wall! Eventually the bishop walked out and everyone filed behind in pairs. I tried to make a pair with Pol but the monk next me smiled and pulled Pol next to him and I followed. As soon as we emerged into the bright, almost blinding light, I saw why. We stood out as a pair because we were so much bigger than the others. This way we were less obvious. To aid the illusion I stooped. Everyone halted when the Welsh voice spoke. I recognised it as one of the men who were hunting us.
“Bishop Stephen, we are seeking two bandits who have murdered some men and fled into this valley. They are both armed and dangerous. Our dogs lost them on the far side of the valley. Did they visit here?”
“Last night?”
“Probably.”
“No-one came to the monastery last night. We have the gates locked to keep us safe from bandits.” I smiled at the half truth. He had not lied and he had answered the question as truthfully as he could manage.
I heard the disappointment in the man’s voice. “We will keep watching then. They cannot have gone far. They are on foot.”
“If they come here I will tell you. What are their names?”
I heard the panic in the man’s voice. “Do not approach them or speak with them. If you see them then lock the gates. They are dangerous and should not be spoken with. Thank you for your time bishop. Right lads. Back into the hills. We’ll get the dogs going again.”
After they had left the bishop led us into his rooms. “They will watch.”
“I cannot put you and the monastery at risk bishop. We will leave.”
“We will be in greater danger if they see you leaving here.”
“Then we leave after dark. We can spend the day resting.”
“Very well but there is no time limit. You may stay as long as you wish, or need to.”
When we were, once again, in the loft I explained to Pol what we would need to do. “I am worried that the attempt on my life was a precursor to an attack on our land. I could not tell the good bishop that but we must return as soon as we can.”
“It is over forty miles to the island lord.”
“True but it is only thirty to the fort of Pasgen and I hope he has men patrolling. It will be a long walk Pol. If you think you are not up to it then remain here and I will bring help.”
He shook his head angrily, “Warlord what kind of oathsworn would I be if I allowed you to go alone amongst our enemies while I remained here in safety?”
“Very we
ll Pol, but we keep going no matter what we feel like. It is our island which is under threat and all of our people. Much rests on our shoulders.”
We slept well and awoke before dusk. Bishop Stephen fed us well and then gave us food for the journey. “These are honey and oat cakes and they will sustain you better than bread alone. This liquor is a spirit. It will purify any water you drink and give warmth in the night for it is becoming colder.”
“Thank you bishop and I will not forget this kindness.”
He spread his hands and looked like one of the statues I had seen in Civitas Carvetiorum, the White Christ, “A true Christian is charitable.”
We headed, not up the valley sides, but towards the sea. I reasoned that they would be seeking us along the most direct route. The coastal way was slightly longer but it had fewer rises and falls. I had made the decision and we followed it for good or ill. As we were travelling at night it also made it easier for us to navigate as we had fewer trees to worry us. We just had to follow the stream towards the sea. By the same token the lack of trees meant a lack of cover. For the first six miles or so the land was flat and featureless but I could see a ridge of hills looming up and, in the near distance the foothills of Wyddfa came alarmingly close to the sea.
When we reach the col at the neck of land which jutted out into the sea I stopped for some food and to see how Pol was doing. His breathing had been more laboured than mine. I had asked him to leave the banner at the monastery but he stubbornly carried it. He took his duties seriously. The honey cakes were delicious and they seemed to make us both feel better just by eating them. There was no water nearby and so we both took a sip of the aqua vitae neat. It warmed, tingled and burned a little as it slipped down but we both felt warmer.